Floods and landslide caused by ‘Quinta’ hit Albay villages

LEGAZPI CITY — Continuous rains brought on by tropical depression ‘Quinta’ since Wednesday submerged in flood water practically the whole of downtown Legazpi City early on Thursday and several villages in the Albay towns of Polangui, Oas, Libon and Malinao.

Dr. Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office, said that flood waters in 15 urban barangays of this city and in the affected villages in the four towns were from knee-to-waist deep.

Light to moderate rains that pelted the province for about 17 hours since Wednesday until early dawn today caused the Makabalo and Sagumayon river channels in this city to overflow, submerging the 15 villages — from the near shore barangays all to the way to the city’ commercial district, Daep said.

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In the affected towns, Daep said five Army trucks were sent to Polangui and Libon to assist the local disaster councils in their disaster operations.

Landslide also hit the steep slope of Mount Masaraga in Polangui town, Daep said in a phone interview.

In Malinao town, municipal disaster action officer German Gonzaga reported that some 300 villagers living along river channels and dikes were evacuated to safer grounds as flash floods submerged at least three villages there.

Knee-to-waist deep flood waters also rendered the road network in Barangay Balsa,in Malinao town impassable to all types of vehicle.

Daep said rain gauge instrument for the period from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday recorded a cumulative amount of 226.4 mm rainfall, indicating that the volume could trigger floods and landslides.

Dr. Landrico Dalida, director of the weather bureau here, said moderate to heavy rains with 12 to 25 mm per hour rainfall will still prevail on Thursday over Bicol.